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Ally Week Resources

GLSEN and thousands of students will celebrate Ally Week on September 26 – 30, 2016 in schools and communities nationwide.

Ally Week is an opportunity for students to engage in a national conversation about what it means to be an ally. Straight and cisgender youth can be allies to LGBT youth, and LGBT people can also be allies to one another, supporting and validating the intersections of identities that we use to define ourselves. Read further to find out more about how anyone can be a better ally against anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language, bullying and harassment in schools.

Here are a few ways you can participate in Ally Week, from signing a pledge to putting together a school-wide campaign. Find one that works for you.

Students and GSAs are strongly encouraged to register for GLSEN's Ally Week in order to receive free resources and to help us learn how many students are participating. We also invite you to get in touch with your nearest GLSEN Chapter about local Ally Week activities.

Know your rights

You have the right to participate in Ally Week! Take a look at this letter from the ACLU and share it with your school administrators to let them know you have the right to participate. If you find that your rights are being violated, contact your local ACLU affiliate or the ACLU LGBT Project for more assistance.

Start organizing

On the right side of this page, you'll find a selection of resources that will help YOU, the organizers, get set for Ally Week. From Ally Week action instructions to sample letters for your school's administration, we've got everything you need to set up a successful Ally Week.

Brush up

How are you doing as an ally? No matter how you identify, you can learn more about supporting LGBT youth by taking action right now. You can go through these steps alone or with your GSA or other student club.

Get social

Once you've printed, shared and organized your Ally Week resources, we want to hear from you about how you're making your school better by becoming #BetterAllies. Tweet or Instagram your stories and we'll share our favorites.

Strengthen your GSA

Want to continue organizing in your school even after Ally Week is over? GLSEN's Jump-Start Guide is our resource to help GSA clubs continue to organize and create safer schools! There are eight separate guides that will take you through the process of establishing or re-establishing your group, identifying your mission and goals, and assessing your school's climate. To see a more detailed description of the Jump-Start Guides and to download copies, click here.